Don`t understand the fuss about Oscars: Mira Nair

Panaji: Indian born director Mira Nair says she does not understand the fuss about Indian filmmakers` obsession with winning an Oscar or making movies to win accolades from the West.

The 55-year-old filmmaker, whose first feature film ‘Salaam Bombay’ (1988) won an Oscar nomination, says Indian movies shouldn`t be made so that they are selected at the Oscars and we should back our own films.

"I don`t understand why India looks up to the Oscars. The Academy awards were set up for Americans, to give a pat on their back but somehow it has become a greater obsession here.

"The sad part is the kind of disconnect we have in sending the kind of movies. Unless we establish the reach of better movies, things won`t change. Audience is my Oscar," Mira said on the sidelines of the 43rd International Film Festival of India here.

The Asian premiere of her film ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ is being held here today at the festival`s closing. It is based on the novel by Mohsin Hamid.

"I was interested in making the movie when I first visited Pakistan. The movie tells the other side of the story post 9/11. We have heard the American version but not the other so my aim was to tell the story from a different perspective. It was a difficult project and took five years to make," she added.
The film has premiered at various international film festivals but Mira says showing the movie in her home country gives her ultimate satisfaction.

"I have been to a lot of festivals - London, Toronto, Venice, Doha but coming back to India and showing the movie here gives a sense of completeness. I am happy and excited to be here and am waiting for the reaction from people here."
The movie stars Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson, Liev Schreiber, Kiefer Sutherland, Om Puri and Shabana Azmi.